The Saturdays’ Mollie King: Una Healy’s pregnancy won’t affect us

The Saturdays singer
Mollie King talks to Metro about being selected for the England ski squad, her bandmate Una Healy’s pregnancy and The Saturdays’ new album On Your Radar.

The Saturdays are in talks to star in a new reality show in the US (Picture: Getty)

Why did you want to become a singer?

Iâve always loved singing. When I was about four I loved singing along to Kylie Minogue âdoing the Locomotionâ and whatever came on theÂ radio. Later on, I saw Take That at Wembley and was amazed by their performance and, as a young teenager, I really loved Britney Spears .

Have you met her?

No, but I saw herÂ concert recently. I get very star struck by virtually everyone. When we first started and did shows like GMTV, I was like: âOh my God, I canâtÂ believe Iâm meeting the presentersâ and would ask to get my picture taken with everyone. We saw Timbaland in Los Angeles and I said I was going to ask for a picture and the girls said: âPlease donât, youâll look like such a dork.â I thought we might never meet him again so went over like a right nerd and said: âHi Timbaland, can I get my photo taken with you?â He said yes, at which point the other four dived in. So Iâm the one who looks like a geek but theyâre very happy to get in there. I try to keep my cool but Iâm not very good at it.

Why did you turn your back on skiing to pursue pop stardom?

I skied from the age of six to 17 and was the youngest person to be selected for the adult England squad, which I was so proud of, but singing was what I always really wanted to do. When I was on the mountains I was wishing I was a pop singer. I reached the point where to continue with my skiing career Iâd have had to move to Austria, leave school and dedicate my life to it. IÂ decided to step away. It was a huge risk; my parents were very worried, because itâs very unlikely your dreams come true when you want to be a pop singer.

What lessons has the music industry taught you?

To harden up. When we released our first single, we got horrible comments on YouTube slating us. I phoned our management in tears saying: âEveryone hates us.âÂ As time goes by, you learn not toÂ take those comments on board.Â We receive a bit of abuse every dayÂ either on Twitter or YouTube but Iâm doing what I love for a living and let it all go over my head.

Do you ever Google yourself now?

No, but I have very active grandparents who have just discovered the internet and tell me all the things theyâve read about me. You want to see what the fans think of your new singles and videos but you always get one or two bad comments. Sometimes it sticks in your mind if someone says you look like a chimpanzee. I donât understand who has time to send stuff like that.

Are you getting another reality show?

Weâre talking about doing one in the US. Itâs quite daunting. When we did our first one with ITV2, myÂ attitude was I wanted to be a singer, not a reality star, and wanted to be known for being a good performer and to keep work and my private life separate.Â But if you do a reality show you have to do it properly. The scariest thing is you forget the cameras are there and let your guard down because you become friends with the film crew.

What are the highs and lows of dating a model?

The high is that Iâm with David [Gandy] and I like him so much and heâs amazing. The lows are Iâm never going to look a patch on him. I wake up and think: âHeâs so pretty.â Then I look at myself in the mirror and think: âOh my God, I need to sort my hair out.â Thatâs a low.Â

Whatâs it like seeing him topless on every bus stop in London?

Itâs funny. I pass them and think: âThere he is again, naked.â Iâm proud of him every time I see one. I text him and say: âIâve just seen you on the side of a bus.â Heâs much cooler about it than I am.

How will bandmate Una Healyâs pregnancy affect The Saturdays?

Itâs amazing. We see her belly grow every day and I canât believe thereâs a baby in there. Sheâs the first of my friends to get pregnant and Iâm fascinated. Weâre all going to become aunties, which is exciting. It wonât change The Saturdays too much. Sheâs doing all the rehearsals for the tour â sheâsÂ really fit and active.Â

What are the perks of fame?

Freebies are nice. The best one was a holiday to the Caribbean. I donât think of myself as being famous. I think Iâm lucky to do what I love doing. We were recording and one of the girls went to the newsagent and there was screaming from outside. I thought: âWhy are they screaming at my friend? Has her skirt blown up?â and then you remember theyâre screaming because theyâre fans and theyâre excited to see her. Itâs still difficult to get my head around.

What ambitions have you got for the band?

World domination. We went to Asia a couple of years ago and would love to go to Europe and the US. Itâs a big place. Weâre so excited about our arena tour. We want to keep selling albums and keep enjoying it. You see people who donât enjoy it any more â weâre so lucky we still have that love for it.

The Saturdaysâ single My Heart Takes Over is out now. Latest album On Your Radar follows on November 21.